hello from new member in London

[Suburban Bushwacker]

Ive just (like yesterday) acquired a sizeable space to place hives in a much overgrown vineyard about an hour away from my house.
very much looking forward to leaning all about apiary

 

[enrico]

Ive just (like yesterday) acquired a sizeable space to place hives in a much overgrown vineyard about an hour away from my house.
very much looking forward to leaning all about apiary

An hour's drive is quite a long distance. I would suggest you get a locked unit to keep all your kit in. I get fed up of walking 100 metres to get things I have forgotten, but ...... Welcome. Been on any courses?

 

[Suburban Bushwacker]

An hour's drive is quite a long distance. I would suggest you get a locked unit to keep all your kit in. I get fed up of walking 100 metres to get things I have forgotten, but ...... Welcome. Been on any courses?

Comes with storage, wine and deer stalking
Any courses you’d recommend ?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Comes with storage, wine and deer stalking
Any courses you’d recommend ?

Join a local beekeeping association and enrol in their winter theory course/spring practical.
Contact BASC and enrol in one of their deerstalking courses.

 

[JamezF]

Join a local beekeeping association and enrol in their winter theory course/spring practical.
Contact BASC and enrol in one of their deerstalking courses.

It's possible that you might still have time to get in touch with WSET and join one of their wine stalking courses, too.

James

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

how much tuition do you need to throw a load of red biddy down your gregory?

 

[Paulypaul]

Comes with storage, wine and deer stalking
Any courses you’d recommend ?

As others have said, get on a 6-month beginners course, run by your local BKA. I wouldn't recommend anyone keep bees without doing that course
You can usually tell if a keeper has been on one of those courses, when you get into a chat about beekeeping, or they show you their setup. The difference is night and day.

 

[enrico]

And definitely go into a hive with someone BEFORE you spend any money. Keeping bees sounds so easy. Many have failed. Click on the link at the bottom of my post for an insight into how challenging it can be

 

[Suburban Bushwacker]

And definitely go into a hive with someone BEFORE you spend any money. Keeping bees sounds so easy. Many have failed. Click on the link at the bottom of my post for an insight into how challenging it can be

thanks that's helpful.

 

[rampino]

thanks that's helpful.

Hi Suburban Bushwacker, what area of London are you in? Congratulations on getting a site, but as others have said, an hour’s drive is long distance for beekeeping.

Join a local beekeeping association and enrol in their winter theory course/spring practical.
Contact BASC and enrol in one of their deerstalking courses

 

[ericbeaumont]

area of London

I agree with Rampino: an hour for one or two beginner colonies is too far. A beekeeping beginner has an addictive desire to watch and check and - depending how you travel - the expense of the journey will outweigh the return in yield and the pleasure in getting it.

An example: I live in Stoke Newington in Hackney and drive 40 minutes to apiaries holding a minimum of 12 colonies, but as a super of honey brings £400 at market the management travel and expense is justified.

If you do decide to keep your bees in the vineyard be aware that at your stage of the game you will have to visit every 7 days to learn to manage the colonies. When you have gained experience by making as many mistakes as I have (and do) colonies can be set up for a fortnight or a month between visits, but such strategies depend on experience of fluid colony status and variable nectar flows in that area.

 

[Suburban Bushwacker]

Hi Suburban Bushwacker, what area of London are you in? Congratulations on getting a site, but as others have said, an hour’s drive is long distance for beekeeping.

Hackney

 

[Suburban Bushwacker]

I agree with Rampino: an hour for one or two beginner colonies is too far. A beekeeping beginner has an addictive desire to watch and check and - depending how you travel - the expense of the journey will outweigh the return in yield and the pleasure in getting it.

An example: I live in Stoke Newington in Hackney and drive 40 minutes to apiaries holding a minimum of 12 colonies, but as a super of honey brings £400 at market the management travel and expense is justified.

If you do decide to keep your bees in the vineyard be aware that at your stage of the game you will have to visit every 7 days to learn to manage the colonies. When you have gained experience by making as many mistakes as I have (and do) colonies can be set up for a fortnight or a month between visits, but such strategies depend on experience of fluid colony status and variable nectar flows in that area.

We’re nearly neighbours I’m in milfields

 

[Suburban Bushwacker]

Hi Suburban Bushwacker, what area of London are you in? Congratulations on getting a site, but as others have said, an hour’s drive is long distance for beekeeping.

Hackney

 

[Paulypaul]

We’re nearly neighbours I’m in milfields

There's an apiary on the isle of dogs (mudchute farm). Alternatively, he could contact the LBKA.

 

[ericbeaumont]

contact the LBKA

LBKA operate South of the river; most local association is Epping Forest. We have members from Stoke Newington in Hackney right across to Barking and Romford; training is at an apiary in Wanstead.